During the 1980s, Otto was involved in numerous business ventures. He owned numerous Burger King Restaurants near Sacramento, California until the early 1990s. In 1997, Otto's daughter, Jennifer, a 39-year-old mother of four, died from a blood clot. I remember that one because I was almost paralyzed, and doctors had to pull my intestines aside to get to my back.. We havent seen the worst yet.. Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory is the story about a man who fought through numerous injuries, frequent surgeries, and a myriad of other maladies. No. Steve Sabol had the following to say about Butkus: His career stands as the most sustained work of devastation ever committed on any field of sport, anywhere, any time., Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. and ankle injuries during his three years with the Hurricanes. I don't like concussions. Hell no, I wouldnt do it all over again, said Krueger. Lewis missed two games, returned wearing a heavy brace, and registered 11 tackles against Pittsburgh. When you looked at your wife and you didn't know who she was, like, who's this chick? His joints became riddled with arthritis, and he developed debilitating back and neck problems. Anything loosea knee pad, a shoe, a chin strapwould be ripped off by a Butkus tackle. When you have a blow like that, it's a concussion; there's no doubt about it. The Most Risky Job Ever. Reporting on ISIS in Afghanistan. Today, he tours the country giving motivational speeches. He has played through numerous injuries, including a broken bone in his back. Nobody is helping me. In 1972, he thought he broke his back on a hit by a Minnesota Vikings linebacker, so he crawled off the field. Joe Greene, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-1981), Nicknamed Mean," Joe Greene was one of only a handful of defensive players in NFL history who could singlehandedly change the outcome of a game. Why isn't there somebody that can help him? Favre has started 287 consecutive games, including the postseason, an all-time record for a quarterback. I've had scans of my brain, and it's been explained to me what is really wrong with my brain. Jim Otto Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. One time, Otto nearly died on the operating table. And so yes, he broke my helmet; he broke my face mask in here, which broke my nose and set it over here. But when you say you don't want to make that connection, it's because you just don't want to believe that there is that connection? We were at the Polo Grounds when I first ran up against him. The gladiator goes until he can't go anymore. NAPA, Calif. -- Hall of Fame center Jim Otto recently had his right leg amputated and is recovering in a hospital in Utah. Every game. FRONTLINE reports from Iraq on the miscalculations and mistakes behind the brutal rise of ISIS. I wanted to help Dave Dalby and Sally did to because we loved him and I didn't see that happening in Pittsburgh with Mike Webster. I wanted people to respect me.. And then being in that position to hit the ball, the runner drops his head, the quarterback drops his head or whatever it might be, and you have head-to-head contact. He was double-teamed, every play, for his entire career. Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett calls LT an old-school player. How much did Jim Otto weigh when playing? It was really bad. In the 1969 regular season, Oakland scored 377 points (26.9 points/game), once again leading the AFL, beating the Houston Oilers in the divisional round before losing to the Chiefs. He has played through numerous injuries such as a separated right clavicle, an infected right shoulder, a dislocated ring finger on his right hand, torn cartilage in his right knee, a strained calf, a hip pointer, a ruptured disk, back spasms, strained rib cartilage, severely bruised ribs, a left knee sprain, an MCL sprain, a left ankle sprain, severe turf toe, a cracked bone spur in his left ankle, a bone spur in his toe, and a severely bruised sternum. As a show of respect, he always calls Raiders' owner Al Davis "Mr. Jack Youngblood, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams (1971-1984). Otto Two years later Unitas played the entire season with a broken vertebrae. Going across the middle against Dick Butkus was considered attempted suicide. They never told me part of my knee was missing, said Krueger. WebJim Otto is generally recognized as one of the greatest and most durable centers the game of football has ever seen. Garrison wrapped his thumb in tape and played the next day, rushing for over 100 yards. And that is the bad thing. Ex-Cowboys wide receiver Bob Hayes and former Miami Dolphins running back Mercury Morris have served time on drug convictions. The first time in high school, I can't really remember anything other than coming out of amnesia and thinking, where have I been? Forty-year-old players are having the same problems as 80-year-old men., Wherever there is repeated trauma to certain areas, wherever joints and ligaments have been injured, arthritis and other degenerative diseases, well, its going to happen, said Dr. Stan Lavine, team physician of the Washington Redskins from 1975 through 1985. The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently received new artifacts from Super Bowl LV. I don't make want to make excuses. I was depressed because I wasn't running out on the field anymore, when they announced "At center, Jim Otto." Otto punished his body greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 40 surgeries, including 28 knee operations (nine of them during his playing career And it's not being selfish, not on my behalf being selfish because I can't do it, and I would want it. Ernie Stautner comes in the huddle, and his thumb is broken back against his wrist. They're suing everybody for a lot of money, which I don't like because that's going to hurt football in high school, Little League and in pros. Yeah. 12x And from what I understand and read -- never met him -- it does sound like he played that game exactly like you described. During his first 10 years he suffered the usual injuries such as broken noses, fingers and ribs, and he played through it all. Yeah, just on the line, hitting each other. And Nitschke, it was right toward the end of his career, and he was I guess letting Carter get some time in there. I think if you were to look at me and evaluate me, it was a matter of pride. And then there's the injured tough, which is no-regard-for-your-body-and-play-with-broken-bones tough. It's just a physical battle in there, that you have to do. Now, the amnesia one, that was before the NFL, is that right? Jim Otto was elected into the Hall of Fame as a Player in 1980. I don't know anything that much about Junior. The only first-team All-AFL center in the leagues 10-year history, Jim helped the Raiders rise from a 9-33 start in their first three years of existence to a team that won seven division titles and an AFL title and made a Super Bowl appearance before he retired. "Uh-uh, can't do it," you know? I've had 74 surgeries all told throughout my body, all over my body. Maybe part of it was Wisconsin and kids from a small town: Mike Webster from Rhinelander [High School], Wis., wanting to prove that he was a great, Jim Otto from Wausau who wanted to prove that he was the greatest. Jim Otto had his right leg amputated on August 1, 2007.[2]. WebJim Otto (born January 10, 1992) is a retired American football Offensive Tackle. The symptoms are nightmares and cold sweats. WebBut Jim, remembering that his college injuries had all come when he was on defense, chose to let down a little during defensive tryouts and then really go all out when it came time for offensive team trials. I never went out of the game. Bronko Nagurski, Running Back, Chicago Bears (1930-1937, 1943), As Giants linebacker Johnny Dell Isola said during their playing days years ago, I had heard a lot about him, but I thought most of it was exaggerated. Butkus, once the the most feared player in football, sometimes walks as if one leg is inches longer than the other. If we were fighting a war, the linebackers would be the first guys to get killed. Unitas could intimidate without being one of the physical players. And a lot of times these guys fall into that category or one of those categories, and it happens that they commit suicide. George Trafton, Center, Chicago Bears (1920-1921, 1923-1932). They would worry about the consequences later., Huizenga said: I would say most of the doctors are first-rate professionals, but they can fall into a trap from the huge pressures of owners and the millions of dollars involved, especially in big games. Right. Jim Otto In 14 seasons of play for the Oakland Raiders, Jim Otto played had a punishing history of injuries. He gave the following advice to future Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey: Make sure when anyone tackles you he remembers how much it hurts., 20. Raiders All-Time Top Five: Centers - Sports Illustrated He was not a great linebacker. Runyan has started 180 consecutive games at right tackle, and has played in the postseason on seven occasions. 801,422 12. Most of these players are young, and they feel invincible, said Stuart Fishelman, a Baltimore doctor who provides sports psychology services. The NFL Hall of Famer recounts his legendary career with the Oakland Raiders, his many injuries, and the terrible cost of playing through the pain.From 1960 to 1974, Jim Otto played center for the Oakland Raiders, leading the team to historic AFL and NFL victories. Immediately everybody rushes to blame football or blame some other thing happened in their life either socially, emotionally or psychologically. And if you cant take the injuries, get the hell out. Almost no one leaves this game unscarred either physically or mentally.. We dont keep records, but were seeing greater numbers of psychological problems when theyre finished playing.. We'd attack the bunker, and the quarterbacks would be sitting in a tank with the general saying, 'Well, what kind of attack are you planning?' Utleys injury received a lot of media attention because it happened during a game. Jim Otto - Wikipedia That was the most important thing to me. They've asked for my brain. Including pre-season, regular season and post-season games, Otto competed in 308 consecutive games. He also fought off three life-threatening bouts of infections due to his artificial joints, and during one six-month stretch, was without a proper right knee joint because he had to wait for the infection to clear up before another artificial one could be implanted. I don't know that much about other players regarding suicide. I think some of these below-the-waist blocks as well, sure, you stand to hurt a knee or stand to hurt something. Among Doblers principal offenses were biting, gouging, punching, kicking, and grabbing the face mask. And even in soccer, you have problems with your head hitting the ball, two heads coming together or whatever. But I don't think you can blame it -- I don't know. There's a battle, and that battle is going on. ISIS' growing foothold in Afghanistan is captured on film. As a rookie, he was notorious for threatening veterans and starting fights in training camp. If you want to get into something else, play with the girls., 2. Jim Otto You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. I don't want anybody to be hurt from football. He underwent surgery to have 30 inches of his intestines removed, and returned for the second game of the season. But has it always been one of those things that's been in there that players have known about other players? 33. He endured torn-up knees, broken hands, broken ribs, and an acutely-painful hamstring tear but never missed a game. (AP Photo) Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Herb And so these thoughts that have come through your head are fairly recent then? I forget words. In 1975, he was replaced by Dave Dalby. Throughout his Hall of Fame career, this three-time NFL MVP played with a number of injuries, including a badly broken nose, broken fingers, ripped arm tendons, and torn knee cartilage. We invariably would attack a bunker from where the enemy is shooting machine guns. Football has given me so many memories that money cant buy, he said. No. 35. Some things couldnt be measured, however, like Jims self-motivation, commitment and pride. His head still down, Nagurski ran full speed into the brick outfield wall there at Wrigley Field. Giants lineman Al DeRogatis once accused Kilroy of biting him on the nose. And I'm sure there's a lot of studies going on with regard to what was going on with him prior to this. But many former players are experiencing health problems after the spotlight dims, the celebrity fades and they cease to be larger than life. You did though, that was during practices they would do that? According to the latest NFLPA survey, conducted in 1990, more than one-third of 645 players whose careers began as early as 1940 and ended no later than 1986 retired because of disabling injuries. Ronnie Lott, Cornerback & Safety, San Francisco 49ers & Los Angeles Raiders & New York Jets & Kansas City Chiefs (1981-1995). Lawrence Taylor, Linebacker, New York Giants (1981-1993), LT was easily the most disruptive defensive force in NFL history. Mark Bavaro, Tight End, New York Giants & Cleveland Browns & Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1990, 1992-1994). 40. Jim Otto is 6-2 (188 cm) tall. With a broken jaw wired shut, McDonald could only drink milkshakes and watched his weight plummet from 175 to 143. Jim Otto was a Raiders ironman. Oftentimes you'll see the contact where a tackler will tackle a runner or the quarterback, and right away they flag him, and it's going to cost them $20,000, $50,000, whatever it is for that hit. Earl Campbell, Running Back, Houston Oilers & New Orleans Saints (1978-1985), I can't think of anyone who even comes in a close second, when you say, Running backswho really hurts? Deacon perfected the head slap, a move that would be eventually banned by the NFL because it was too effective., 29. And over here these guys are wanting the world. Does that take a certain temperament? Brett Favre, Quarterback, Atlanta Falcons & Green Bay Packers & New York Jets (1991-present). WebHe considered the 20-some broken noses as more nuisance than hindrance, along with a hip pointer, broken fingers, broken ribs, a broken jaw, neck stingers, numerous No one ever has been suspended for a second or third time. If they don't enjoy it, then they should play soccer or they should play something else. Why? Well, the rules and regulations today have really changed football to a certain degree because of the contact rules. Former Los Angeles Raiders offensive lineman Curt Marsh, who retired in 1987, had his right foot and lower leg amputated Sept. 21. You're taught to lead with your head. The scouts also found out that Otto had suffered some shoulder injuries, and that Otto loved the contact that football provided and destroyed anyone on the opposing team looking to get past him. Jim Otto | American Football Wiki | Fandom OK, you started by saying that suicide is not something that people talk about in the NFL, or have [not] until fairly recently anyhow. Below is a look at some of Jim Ottos career accomplishments and highlights. So when you retire from football and you've been involved in football, some kids -- it never happened to me. He makes this big fist. Dick Butkus, Linebacker, Chicago Bears (1965-1973), Dick Butkus was the angriest, most ferocious, menacing, and yes, toughest player to ever play the game of football. Well, in being taught to lead with your head and shoulders to make a tackle, and basically place your head to where it's going to hit the ball, because you get some good fumbles that way when you tackle and place your head and shoulders to where you're going to hit the side where he's carrying the ball. Now, when you're telling, I guess it was maybe in your book, that you talked about the hit that you took from Ray Nitschke, when you -- I guess it was your nose. Web Site Copyright 1995-2016 WGBH Educational Foundation WebInjuries and surgeries. And he told me that so many times: "Pops, I'm going to be just like you. And the helmets weren't made very good. And then a year ago there were four suicides among not necessarily the best noted players but some players, and the Players Association claimed that it's been because of concussions and stuff like that. Mr. If anybody tells you anything different, then they are dumber than I think they are., Krueger replied: Oh yeah, wait till some of these guys turn 65, and they have a bad heart, crummy knees or a screwed-up personality. You seem completely with it and pulling up words and memories and having no problems at all. Since then, only three players have been suspended for the minimum four weeks for a first offense. , 39. In addition to playing offensive center at UM, he also played linebacker on defense. I'm just astounded, and he's using this hand that is broken as a club. 21. They are similar to those experienced by rape victims and soldiers returning from combat. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. It was 1st and 10, and they gave the ball to Nagurski up the middle. Was there anybody that helped Mike Webster go through rehab at that time? I've had over 20 concussions myself, and I don't like them. Then there's the toughness a person has, an aura, that he can intimidate other people by his play or his toughness.. Bednarik was nicknamed Concrete Charlie and to me, will always be known for the phrase I heard him say at training camp one year: Today's football players are underplayed and overpaid., 9. Did you ever have that happen to you? Injuries and Surgeries Otto punished his body greatly during his NFL career, resulting in nearly 40 surgeries, including 28 knee operations (nine of them during his And Baltimore Colts Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas once-golden right arm has a restructured right hand. Im not out for revenge or anything, but I do think they took advantage of my loyalty.. He was one of the best 4th-and-1 runners in NFL history. He played five more games before the loose bone mass was removed. Jim Otto - Injuries and Surgeries | Injuries Surgeries I've had various different cognitive tests regarding my brain. Jim Otto starred for the Oakland Raiders, but his roots were in Wausau, Wisconsin. WebHow did Jim Otto loose his leg? . He's going to make some trash out of me. I'm sure he would. He also had a ramp to enter the bathtub. [1] In the 1967 regular season, Oakland scored 468 points (33.4 points/game), leading the AFL, but lost Super Bowl II to the Vince Lombardi-led Green Bay Packers. The former Titans star quarterback has injured nearly every part of his body at one time or another. Bleier eventually played on four Super Bowl championships and earned a reputation as both a fearsome blocker and a powerful runner. Well, a huge hole opened, and I saw him coming. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Kentucky Derby storylines: Training death puts early pall over Churchill Downs, Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies: How to watch, start times and betting odds, Elliott: Pissed off Kings must improve in key areas to break Oilers playoff stranglehold, Shohei Ohtanis seventh home run of the season helps Angels avoid sweep, Florida Panthers upset record-setting Boston Bruins in Game 7 OT thriller. A lot of things. I was hitting him with such force, and he was coming at me with such force that this is what happened. Otto worked diligently to build his body up to his playing weight of 250 pounds. Journalistic Guidelines WebJim Otto was born in Wausau, WI. He had a game-winning tackle of future Hall of Fame running back Jim Taylor in the closing seconds of the Eagles 17-13 win in 1960. I know that in my mind, in Jim Otto's mind -- and I'll be honest with you right now -- that thoughts of suicide have gone through my head at different times. He spit in the face of Eagles safety Bill Bradley as he lay injured on the ground. Over his 14-year career, which included Pro Bowl selections at safety, cornerback, and linebacker, Lott endured many injuries, including a broken leg and torn knee cartilage. 11. I haven't necessarily told them what I'm thinking. What is the result exactly? Courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame Csonka was a bull in a china shop. Teammate Charlie Waters recalls the time that Garrison accidentally cut his thumb with a knife so that it was dangling from his hand. Some play with injuries because they fear they might lose their job or position and their self-concept and identity.
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